George wm



.(No Model.)

G. W. RUSSELL, Jr. & D. B. MINOR.

CIRCUIT SWITCH.

Patented Sept glwvawtow UNITED v STATEs:

PATENT GFFIQE.

eEoReE'WM. RUSSELL, JR., AND DANIAL B. MINOR, F DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNORS TO SAID RUss LL,JR., AND ALEXANDER v; OFFICER, or SAME PLACE.

CIRCUIT-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,123, dated September 20, 1892- Application filed June 1 1892- To all whom it may concern.- I I Be it known-that we, GEORGE WM. RUSSELL,

-Jr., and DANIAL B. MINOR, citizens of the r this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in automatic switches for use in connection with a direct or alternating electric current, whereby the circuit may be closed or broken through no the medium otpush buttons. This switch is specially designed for use in an incandescentcircuit, and will therefore be considerediri this specification with reference to its use in controlling lamps in a circuit of this description; but it "must be understood that its availability isnotlimitedto this use.

The object of the invention in this particular relation is to provide a means whereby all or any number of the lamps in a building may beturned on or off from any room of the building by simply pressing a. button. This .-Obj60t we accomplish through the instrumentality of two solenoids placed end to end and connected byabrass tube, in which is located 5's. movable soft-iron bar adapted to reciprocate in the tube as the current is alternately passed through the helices or coils of the solenoids. The reciprocating bar is provided on two opposite sides with copper projections,- which extend outward between the solenoids at right angles to the bar, the brass tube being'slotted and the solenoids separated to allow the bar the; length of stroke required for making and breaking the circuit, which is 4 5 accomplished by the copper projeetions,which engage and disengage copper brushes as the bar to which they are attached moves back and -forth under the influence of the lines of force or magnetic attraction induced by 5 the'passage of the current through the coils.

Serial No. 435.196. (No model.)

Eachsolenoid is composed. of two coil-sew tions wound in opposite directions.

We wish to observe that the terms copper, soft iron, and brass are not used in this specification in a limited or specific sense, but have a broad generic or typical meaning. For instance, when copper is mentioned it must be understood thatanygood conductorof the electric current may be employed. Soft iron is used as typical of magnetic or paramagnetic bodies, or those havinga high coefiicient of magnetic conductivity, while we employ brass as a general term for nonmagnetic or diamagnetic bodies.

The invention consists, further, in the features, arrangements, and combinations hereinafter described and, claimed, and will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic vietl er the invention, showing the circuits or paths of the current under different circumstances. Fig. 2 is a side view Ofthe solenoids supported upon a suitable insulating-plate. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the same partially in section. Fig. 4 illustrates the 1nanner of winding the solenoids.

Similar reference characters indicating corism in the several views, let the numeral 5 designate an insulating base block or plate located at any convenient. point. Upon this plate as a base are mounted the solenoids 6 and 7, respectively, composed of the oppositely-wound sections 8 and 9 and 10 and 12, respectively. Thesolenoids are provided with end plates 13 14 and 15 16 and the intermediate disks 17 and 18, all composed of insulating material. The outer end plates 13 and 15 are secured to the base 5 in any suitable manner. Through the hollow of the solenoids passes the brass tube 19, which forms the connection therefor. The solenoids are separated by a space 20, and the portion of the tube 19 which extends through this space isslotted on two opposite sides, as shown at 21 22. Through these slots extend the copper projections 23 and 24, which form a continuous bar rigidly secured to but electrically responding parts or elements of illB.IIlGCll&ll-'

on time pro cottons 23 and 24 when bar 25 is at its limit of movement in one direction, while parts 23 and 24 are disengaged from these brushes when the soft-iron bar is at its opposite limit of movement. Brushes 26 and 27 are supported upon metal lugs 28 and 29, se-' cured to base 5 in any suitable manner. From the main circuitlcad the wiresAand B. Wire A leads to a binding-post E, secured to base 5. From post E leads a wire 30 to a metal lug 28, supporting brush 26, and therefore electrically connected with said brush, from which lead branch wires 31 and 32 to solenoids 6 and 7, respectively. From these solenoids lead the wires 33 and 3% to the binding posts G and 11, respectively, which posts are connected through the medium of wires and 36 with the push-buttons G and D, respectively. These buttons are connected by a wire K, from which leads a wire 37 to wire B of the main circuit. From brush 27 leads a wire 38 to binding post F, secured to the base 5. From post F passes a wire 39 to lamp L, from which passes a wire 40 to wire B of the main circuit.

The operation is as follows: Assuming that bar 25, with its copper projections, is in the position shown in Fig. 1, button 0 being pressed the current passes from wire A through brush 26 and solenoid 6 by virtue of the connection heretofore explained. As the current passes through this solenoid bar 25 is drawn into the solenoid and the copper projections make contact with both brushes 26 and 27, completing the lamp-circuit and lighting the lamp, to extinguish whiohit will only be necessary to prcssbutton D, when the current is passed through solenoid 7 and bar 25 drawn into the last-uamc .solenoid, disen- "gaging parts 23 and $3 fronrthc brushes and breaking the lmnp-circnit.

This switch is practicable for use with an alternating current having an eiectro-motive force of from forty-eightto one hundred volts and with a direct current of from fifty to five hundred volts, or practically covering the entire range of variations in both currents.

Having thus described our-invention, what we claim is'.-

of an automatic switch interposed therein and consisting oftwo solenoids suitably connected, a loose bar supported therein and carrying contact projections, metallic brushes or plates connected with the circuit-wires on each side of the switch, a branch circuit in which the solenoids lie, and push-buttons located therein, whereby the current is altermain circuit closed or broken, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the main circuit;

of switch mechanism interposed therein and,

two oppositclywound coil sections, a bar movably supported therein composed of magnetic material and carrying contact projections, suitable stationary contacts to which the circuit-Wires lead on each side of the interposed switch, a branch circuit in which the solenoids lie, and push-buttons located in said last-named circuit, whereby the currentis alternately passed through the solenoids, the movable bar reciprocated by the induced magnetic force, and the main circuit closed or broken, substantially as described.

The combination, with the main circuit, of a pair of solenoids, a reciprocating bar support-ed therein, a branch circuit in which the solenoids lie, and push-buttons whereby the current is alternately passed through the solenoids and the main circuit closed or broken, substantially asdescribed. 4

In testimony whereof we allix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE WM. RUSSELL, Jn. DANIA'L 13. MINOR.

\Vitucsscs:

WM. MCCoNNELL, G. H. Srovsn.

nately passed through the solenoids and the 1. The combination, with the main circuit, I

consisting of two solenoids, each composed of v 

